Booking photo for Dayton Jorge Chavez. (Courtesy: Cache County Jail)
LOGAN — A 23-year-old Paradise man, who was previously convicted of enticing teenagers to have sex with him, has pleaded guilty again for sexting with several young girls. Dayton J. Chavez has been in the Cache County Jail since being arrested Dec. 3.
Chavez participated in a virtual hearing in 1st District Court Wednesday morning, appearing by web conference from jail. He accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to one count of dealing in materials harmful to a minor, a third-degree felony.
Defense attorney Joseph Saxton explained that as part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to drop a second charge against his client.
Chavez was arrested after law enforcement learned that he had been contacting a 15-year-old and two other teen girls on Snapchat. During the exchanged messages, he tried to trade naked photos with one of the girls.
The alleged crimes occurred while Chavez was on probation for a similar crime.
In 2018, the defendant was convicted of trying to coerce a teenage boy and girl to have sex with him. He was later sentenced to 120-days in jail and five-years of probation.
Chavez spoke only briefly during Wednesday’s hearing, telling the court he was willing to waive his rights to a trial and plead guilty to the crime. He did not provide any excuse.
Chavez is currently being held without bail. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 8 and could face up to five years in prison.
will@cvradio.com